A city street scene in Kigali, Rwanda, featuring modern high-rise buildings with reflective glass facades on both sides. Motorcyclists and a few pedestrians navigate the clean, well-maintained road bordered by manicured hedges and sidewalks. The sky is overcast with gray clouds, adding a dramatic backdrop to the urban landscape. In the distance, more buildings, including a distinctively shaped skyscraper, contribute to the city's skyline.

Global Learning in Rwanda

Connect with Rwanda: One Health for a More Sustainable World

Kigali (and more), Rwanda

  • Dates – June 16-June 28, 2025 *
  • Max Group Size – 7
  • Taught In – English
  • Prerequisites – No
  • Academic Area – Open to all majors
  • Application Deadline: February 6, 2025

Program Overview

This unique program and scholarship opportunity, offered thanks to donor funds, provides an exciting chance to travel to Rwanda, The Land of a Thousand Hills. In a small cohort of students, you will engage with community organizations, meet local companies, work closely with a faculty member from UC Davis, and have cultural experiences centered on the topics of “One Health” and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

The World Health Organization defines health as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease. Rwanda has undergone a remarkable transformation from a country shattered by genocide to a thriving nation with a focus on environmental sustainability, gender equality, and technology-driven solutions. In this program, we will examine "One Health" issues in the context of sustainable development within Rwanda. You will learn about the broader issues affecting the well-being of people, domestic animals (including livestock), wildlife and ecosystem health through travel to different parts of Rwanda, while being immersed in rich cultural activities. The goal is to help build a cohort of globally engaged individuals who are comfortable collaborating across disciplines and cultures to solve complex global problems. 

Program Content

This program is being offered not for credit. However, upon return, students will receive a certificate of completion signed by the Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs and the program faculty.

You can expect to attend 3-4 pre-departure meetings and complete online modules in spring quarter. While in Rwanda, the program will consist of daily tours, excursions, cultural activities, faculty and guest lecturers, and group meals. This is a traveling program and activities take place each day of the program.

Program Contacts

Program Highlights

  • Automatic scholarship: you pay a $500 program fee, which covers all on-the-ground expenses as well as a roundtrip flight from San Francisco International Airport to Kigali, Rwanda.
    • Priority for first-generation and low-income students who have not had opportunities to travel internationally.
  • Learn about global "One Health" and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Examine the interrelatedness of the health of humans, animals, plants, and of the environment in the context of communities within Rwanda.
  • Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Rwandan culture through guided tours, cultural site visits and conversations with local community members.
  • Exposure to conservation and ecosystem health issues through behind-the-scenes visits to conservation centers and community development organizations. The program addresses and highlights multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
  • Build relationships with faculty and peers who can support you as you pursue your aspirations during and beyond the program.

*Note: because this program includes a group flight, program dates might change by one day to accommodate flight schedules.